ABCD Study Director

National Institutes of Health; Maryland; On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Federal benefits package

Job summary

National Institutes of Health seeks an outstanding leader for the Project Director, ABCD Program, to provide scientific and programmatic leadership for a premier longitudinal study of brain development and health across adolescence into young adulthood. The role involves setting priorities, coordinating with NIH partners, and guiding complex multi-site activities.

The position requires demonstrated national recognition in a relevant scientific field, extensive program management experience, and

Qualifications

• Significant scientific accomplishments and national recognition in a relevant field.
• Experience leading large, multidisciplinary research programs of national or international scope.
• Strong leadership, strategic planning, and policy guidance abilities.
• Excellent oral and written communication for diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Provide scientific and programmatic leadership for the ABCD Program within DER.
• Set strategic priorities, allocate resources, and oversee progress and milestones.
• Lead cross-NIH collaboration, coordinate with Institutes, Centers, and key partners.
• Represent NIH in stakeholder engagements and policy discussions.

Skills

Leadership

Program management

Scientific excellence

Communication

Job description

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) at the National Institutes of Health is seeking exceptional candidates for the position of Project Director, Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Program, Division of Extramural Research (DER).

NIDA's mission is to advance science on drug use and addiction and apply that knowledge to improve individual and public health. NIDA supports a broad and multidisciplinary portfolio of basic, clinical, behavioral, epidemiological, prevention, treatment, and translational research and promotes the dissemination and application of scientific findings to improve health and inform research and practice.

The Division of Extramural Research provides leadership, coordination, and oversight for NIDA's extramural research enterprise. DER advises NIDA leadership on the development, implementation, coordination, and evaluation of extramural research programs and policies and supports the effective stewardship of NIDA's extramural research investments. The Division's responsibilities include grants management, extramural policy, clinical research and clinical trials stewardship, research integrity, operations planning and funding opportunity development, scientific portfolio analysis, and the coordination and oversight of major collaborative and trans-NIH research initiatives.

THE POSITION
The position of ABCD Study® and ABCD-E Study Project Director offers a unique opportunity for scientific, strategic, and programmatic leadership of one of NIH's most significant longitudinal research programs.

The ABCD Program is embarking on the next phase of the landmark Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, the largest long-term study of brain development and child and adolescent health in the United States. The original ABCD Study established a cohort of nearly 12,000 participants recruited at ages 9–10 and followed them through adolescence. The next phase will extend longitudinal follow-up of this cohort into young adulthood, a critical developmental period during which important outcomes related to physical and mental health, substance use, educational and vocational attainment, interpersonal relationships, and well-being continue to emerge.

ABCD provides an unprecedented opportunity to examine how biological, environmental, behavioral, and social factors interact across development to influence brain and behavioral development and a broad range of health and functional outcomes. The study integrates longitudinal assessments across multiple scientific domains, including developmental and cognitive neuroscience, neuroimaging, neurocognition, mental and physical health, substance use and addiction, behavioral and social sciences, biospecimens, epidemiology, and other measures relevant to understanding development from adolescence into young adulthood.

The ABCD Program is a highly visible, complex, multidisciplinary research program supported through cooperative agreements, under which NIH scientific and program staff have substantial involvement in study activities. The ABCD Consortium includes 21 linked Research Project Sites, one Coordinating Center (CC), and one Data Analysis, Informatics, and Resource Center (DAIRC). Together, these components support longitudinal participant follow-up; standardized phenotypic, neurocognitive, neuroimaging, electrophysiological, and biospecimen data collection; study coordination; data quality and harmonization; informatics; analysis; and broad scientific data and biospecimen sharing.

ABCD will continue to provide a major scientific resource for the research community. Its longitudinal data will support research examining developmental trajectories; risk and resilience factors; biological, environmental, behavioral, and social influences on health and development; and predictors of important young-adult outcomes. Through broad and responsible data sharing, ABCD will enable investigators to address scientific questions across multiple disciplines and maximize the long-term scientific and public health value of this unique national cohort.

Duties

As a Science Program Leader, the Project Director reports directly to the Director, DER, and provides overall scientific and programmatic leadership for this highly visible and complex trans-NIH research program.

The Project Director establishes scientific priorities and strategic objectives; makes high-level recommendations and decisions regarding overall program direction; advises on resource allocation; evaluates scientific and programmatic progress; and provides leadership in identifying and resolving complex scientific, operational, and policy issues affecting the study.

The Project Director provides leadership for a trans-NIH ABCD committee and working groups and represents NIH in Consortium-wide activities related to scientific planning, implementation, oversight, management, evaluation, data stewardship, and communications. The incumbent works closely with participating NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices and with the ABCD Coordinating Center, DAIRC, Research Project Sites, Consortium investigators, and other scientific and programmatic partners.
The Project Director also advises senior NIDA and NIH leadership on matters of major scientific and strategic importance to ABCD and serves as a senior representative for the study in interactions with the scientific community, other Federal agencies, research and professional organizations, and other stakeholders.

The Project Director provides leadership as the ABCD cohort transitions into young adulthood and ensures that the study remains responsive to emerging scientific questions, methodological and technological advances, and opportunities to maximize the value of its longitudinal data and research resources.

Who Can Apply

The public

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Significant scientific accomplishments and national recognition in a field relevant to the ABCD Program;
• Experience leading and managing large, complex, multidisciplinary research programs involving collaborations of national or international scope and impact;
• Demonstrated scientific and organizational leadership and the ability to establish strategic priorities and provide direction across multiple scientific disciplines and organizational components;
• Strong program and project management skills, including experience overseeing complex scientific activities, resources, budgets, milestones, and timelines;
• Experience addressing complex scientific, programmatic, operational, and policy issues;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to effectively represent NIDA and NIH before scientific, professional, governmental, and other stakeholder communities; and
• Demonstrated ability to lead and collaborate effectively across organizational and disciplinary boundaries.

Preferred Qualifications

The successful candidate will possess the scientific breadth, strategic vision, collaborative leadership, and management experience necessary to guide a multidisciplinary longitudinal research program addressing brain and behavioral development, physical and mental health, substance use, educational and vocational outcomes, interpersonal relationships, and well-being as participants transition from adolescence into young adulthood.

Salary will be commensurate with the successful candidate's qualifications, experience, and accomplishments and will be determined in accordance with applicable Federal and NIH policies.
A comprehensive Federal benefits package may be available, including retirement, health and life insurance, leave, and participation in the Thrift Savings Plan, consistent with applicable appointment authorities and eligibility requirements.

The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non‑merit factor. Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) for federal employees & job applicants.

HHS and NIH are Equal Opportunity Employers.

Standards of Conduct/Financial Disclosure

NIH employees are subject to applicable Federal Government-wide and agency-specific ethics statutes and regulations. The selected candidate will be subject to applicable background investigation and financial disclosure requirements associated with the position.

Applicants who have completed part or all of their education outside the United States must provide documentation demonstrating that their education is equivalent to education received at accredited educational institutions in the United States, in accordance with applicable Federal and NIH requirements. Required verification must be received prior to the effective date of appointment.

NIH provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants may request a reasonable accommodation at any time during the application or hiring process. Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis in accordance with applicable Federal and NIH policies.

• A cover letter describing the candidate's interest in the position and relevant scientific, leadership, and administrative experience;

Last Updated: September 28, 2026